Irish: Reading no. 4
"Cúchulainn" (part 2)
This is the second and final part of the mini-play "Cúchulainn", by Máire U&iacutr; Cheallaigh. After having watched Setanta at the hurling, Conchur goes on to the feast at Culann's castle without him, and arrives just as everything has been made ready:
RADHARC II
| [Teach Chulainn.] | |
| CULANN: An bhfuil gach rud réidh, a ghiolla? | (gach, "each") (rud [m.], "thing") (giolla [m.], "servant") |
| GIOLLA: Tá gach rud ullamh anois, a mháistir. | (ullamh, "ready, prepared") (máistir [m.], "master") |
| CULANN: Go breá. Tagaigí isteach anois agus suígí síos. | (tagaigí, "come" [irreg.]) (suigh, "sit") |
| [Ag glaoch ar an gclann] | (ag glaoch, "calling") (clann [f.], "children, family") |
| INÍON: Cá suífidh mise, a Dhaidí? | (Daidí [m.], "Daddy") |
| CULANN: Suigh ansin in aice le do mháthair... Beidh na haíonna anseo i gceann tamaill. | (in aice le, "next to") (aíonna, "guests") (i gceann, "after, at the end of") (tamall [m.], "a while") |
| GIOLLA: Éistigí. Cloisim anois iad. An ligfidh mé isteach iad? | (lig, "let, allow") |
| CULANN: Lig, más é do thoil é. Éist liom. Nuair a bheidh gach duine istigh lig amach an cú. Bí cúramach agus bí cinnte go bhfuil gach duine istigh sula scaoilfidh tú amach é. | (más é do thoil é, "please" lit: "if
it is your will") (nuair, "when") (cú [m.], "dog") (cúramach, "careful") (sula, "before") (scaoil, "release") |
| GIOLLA: Tá go maith, a mháistir. | |
| [Tagann Conchúr agus cúpla fear isteach]. | (tagann, "come(s)" [irreg.]) (cúpla, "a couple") |
| CULANN: A Chonchúir, a Chonchúir, céad míle fáilte romhat. | (céad [m.], "a hundred") (romhat, "before you") |
| CONCHÚR: Go raibh maith agat, a Chulainn. | |
| CULANN: Tá súil agam go bhfuil curaidh chalma na craoibhe rua in éineacht leat. | (tá súil agam, "I hope") (curaidh, "champions") (calma, "brave") (craobh rua, "Red Branch") (in éineacht le, "together with") |
| CONCHÚR: Cinnte. Beidh siad anseo i gceann cúpla nóiméad. Éist. Tá siad ag teacht. | |
| CULANN: Ar m'fhocal! Tá siad anseo. | (focal [m.], "word") |
| [Cloistear banna ceoil ag seinm "Ó DOMHNAILL ABÚ". Tagann siad isteach ag máirseáil.] | (banna ceoil [m.], "music band") (ag seinm, "playing") (ag máirseáil, "marching") |
| CULANN: Fáilte, fáilte, romhaibh go léir. A ghiolla, deochanna. Deochanna do mo chairde. | (romhaibh, "before you") (deochanna, "drinks") (cairde, "friends") |
| [Tosaíonn an giolla ag dáileadh dí.] | (ag dáileadh, "giving out") (di, "of it" [i.e. of the drink]) |
| CONCHÚR: Is iontach an féasta seo atá os ár gcomhair, a Chulainn. | (os ár gcomhair, "in front of us") |
| CULANN: Is ormsa atá an t-áthas anocht. Tá a fhios agat, a Chonchúir, go bhfuil fáilte romhat anseo i gcónaí agus roimh do mhuintir freisin. | (roimh, "before") (freisin, "also, as well") |
| CONCHÚR: Go raibh mile maith agat. Sláinte. | (slàinte [f.], "health, cheers!") |
| [ag ardú a ghloinne.] | (ag ardú, "raising") |
| Do Chulann! | (gloinne [f.], "glass") |
| LE CHÉILE: Do Chulann! | |
| [Leanann na haíonna ar aghaidh leis an scléip.] | (lean ar aghaidh, "continue, go on") (scléip [f.], "merriment, fun") |
| CULANN: Inis dom a Chonchúir, an dtéann tú ag fiach na laethanta seo? | (inis do, "tell") (téann, "go, goes") (ag fiach, "hunting") (laethanta, "days") |
| CONCHÚR: Ó, bíonn mé ar an sliabh gach lá anois ós rud é go bhfuil an aimsir go breá. Bhí mé ag fiach inné. | (sliabh [m.], "mountain") (ós, "since") (aimsir [f.], "weather") |
| CULANN: Bhuel! Conas ar éirigh leat? | (éirigh le, "succeed, get on") |
| CONCHÚR: Ar dtús bhí mí-ádh orm. Ní bhfuair mé dada. Ach i ndeireadh an lae mharaigh mé dhá fhia agus sionnach. | (ar dtús, "at first") (mí-ádh [m.], "bad luck") (ní bhfuair, "didn't get") (dada [m.], "anything") (i ndeireadh, "at the end") (maraigh, "kill") (fia [m.], "red deer") |
| CULANN: Sionnach! | (sionnach [m.], "fox") |
| CONCHÚR: Sea. Maidrín rua. | (maidrín [m.], "little dog") (rua, "reddish-brown") |
| FEAR 1: Maidrín rua! Há-Há-Há. | |
| [Tosaíonn sé ag canadh:] | (ag canadh, "singing") |
| An maidrín rua, rua, rua, rua. | |
| LE CHÉILE: An maidrín rua atá
granna, An maidrín rua na luí sa luachair, Agus barr a dhá chluais in airde. Tally hó lena bhonn, tally hó lena -- |
(le chéile, "(everyone) together") (granna, "ugly") (luachair [f.], "rushes") (barr [m.], "top") (cluas [f.], "ear") (in airde, "above") (lena, "with the") (bonn [m.], "sole (of the foot)") |
| [Stopann an t-amhrán go hobann. Cloistear glór uafásach an chú.] | (stop, "stop") (amhrán [m.], "song") (obann, "sudden") (glór [m.], "voice") (uafásach, "awful, horrible") |
| FEAR II: Céard é sin? | |
| CULANN: Is é sin mo chú. Tá naimhde amuigh is dócha. Ullmhaigí! | (naimhde, "enemies") (ullmhaigh, "get ready!") |
| [Tarraingíonn siad a gclaimhte.] | (tarraing, "draw, pull") (claimhte, "swords") |
| CULANN: Céard atá ort, a Chonchúir? Tá tú chomh bán le sneachta. | (céard atá ort, "what's wrong with
you?") (bán, "white, pale") (sneachta [m.], "snow") |
| CONCHÚR: Setanta. | |
| CULANN: Céard faoi Setanta? | |
| CONCHÚR: Dúirt sé go tiocfadh sé i ndiaidh an chluiche. | (dúirt, "said" [irreg.]) (tiocfadh, "would come" [irreg.]) (i ndiaidh, "after") |
| CULANN: Níor inis tú dom go raibh sé ag teacht. | |
| [Ag ligean osna.] | (ag ligean, "letting out") (osna [f.], "sigh") |
| Agus lig mé amach an cú. | |
| CONCHÚR: Rinne mé dearmad. Tá Setanta bocht marbh. Tá sé marbh. | (rinne mé dearmad, "I forgot"; lit: "I made
forgetfulness") (bocht, "poor") (marbh, "dead") |
| CULANN: Tá brón orm, a Chonchúir. Tá brón orm, cinnte. | |
| [Ritheann Setanta isteach agus é ag cur fola.] | (rith, "run") (ag cur fola, "bleeding") |
| CONCHÚR: Setanta! Ó a chroí, tá tú beo! | (croí [m.], "heart") (beo, "alive") |
| CULANN: Ní thuigim é seo ar chor ar bith. Conas ar éirigh leatsa teacht chomh fada leis an doras agus mo chú breá láidir ag tabhairt aire don chaisleán? | (ar chor ar bith, "at all") (láidir, "strong") (ag tabhairt aire do, "keeping watch over") |
| SETANTA: Nuair a tháinig mé aníos an cosán chonaic mé an cú ag déanamh orm agus gach liú as. Bhí mo chroí i mo bhéal agam mar bhí sé chomh fíochmhar le leon agus a bhéal mór ar oscailt aige. | (tháinig, "came" [irreg.]) (cosán [m.], "path") (chonaic, "saw" [irreg.]) (ag déanamh air, "making for") (liú [m.], "howl, yell") (fíochmhar, "ferocious") (leon [m.], "lion") (ar oscailt, "open, opened") |
| CULANN: Agus céard a rinne tú? | (rinne, "did" [irreg.]) |
| SETANTA: Léim sé orm ach d'éirigh liom éalú uaidh. Ansin rug mé ar mo chamán agus bhuail mé an liathróid siar ina scornach. Thit sé ina chnap ar an talamh. | (léim, "leap, jump") (éalú [m.], "escape") (rug, "reached" [irreg.]) (camán [m.], "hurling stick") (siar, "back") (scornach [f.], "throat") (tit, "fall") (cnap [m.], "lump, heap") (talamh [m.], "ground, earth") |
| CULANN: Agus mharaigh tú é. | |
| SETANTA: Mharaigh. Tá brón orm, a Chulainn. | |
| CULANN: Ní raibh cú eile in Éirinn chomh maith leis. | (eile, "other, another") |
| SETANTA: Tá a fhios agam, a Chulainn. Ach bhí orm mé féin a chosaint. | (a chosaint, "to defend") |
| CULANN: Céard a dhéanfaidh mé anois? | (déanfaidh, "will do" [irreg.]) (eile, "other, another") |
| CONCHÚR: Gheobhaidh mise coileán eile duit. | (gheobhaidh, "will get" [irreg.]) (eile, "other, another") (coileán [m.], "pup") |
| CULANN: Cén mhaitheas é sin? Tógfaidh sé tamall an-fhada chun cú óg a oiliúint agus cad mar gheall ar na naimhde? | (maitheas [f.], "good, benefit") (a oiliúnt, "to train") (mar gheall ar, "about") |
| SETANTA: Déanfaidh mise margadh leat. | (margadh [m.], "agreement") |
| CULANN: Cén margadh? | |
| SETANTA: Tabharfaidh mé féin aire don chaisleán go mbeidh cú eile oilte leat. Cad é do thuairim? | (tabharfaidh, "will give") (go mbeidh, "until there will be") (oilte, "trained") (tuairim [f.], "opinion") |
| CULANN: Cosnóidh tusa mo chaisleán? | (cosain, "defend") |
| SETANTA: Ar m'fhocal, tá mé i ndáiríre. | (i ndáiríre, "serious, in earnest") |
| CONCHÚR: Maith thú, a Shetanta. Is agat atá an misneach agus is iontach an fear óg thú. Tá mé an-bhródúil asat. | (misneach [m.], "courage") (bródúil asat, "proud of you") |
| CULANN: Molaim thú. Gan dabht ar bith tá tú cróga. | (dabht [m.], "doubt") (ar bith, "any") (cróga, "brave") |
| CONCHÚR: Sea, a Chulainn, agus caithfimid ainm nua a thabhairt dó. | (sea, "yes indeed") (caithfimid, "we must") (a thabhairt, "to give" [irreg.]) |
| SETANTA: Cén t-ainm é sin? | |
| CONCHÚR: Cú Chulainn. | |
| CULANN: Sea, go díreach. Cúchulainn! | (go díreach, "exactly") |
| LE CHÉILE: Cúchulainn![Ag scairteadh.] | (ag scairteadh, "cheering, yelling") |
Translation:
SCENE II
CULANN: Is each thing ready, servant?SERVANT: Everything is prepared, master.
CULANN: Fine. Come in now and sit down [calling the children].
DAUGHTER: Where will I sit, Daddy?
CULANN: Sit there next to your mother. The guests will be here in a short while.
SERVANT: Listen. I hear them now. Shall I let them in?
CULANN: Yes, please. Listen to me. When every person is inside, let out the dog. Be careful and be sure each person is in before you release him outside.
SERVANT: Very well, master.
[Conchur and a couple of men come in.]
CULANN: Conchur, Conchur, a hundred thousand welcomes before you.
CONCHÚR: Thank you, Culann.
CULANN: I hope the brave champions of the Red Branch are with you.
CONCHÚR: Certainly. They'll be here in a couple of moments. Listen. The're coming.
CULANN: On my word! They're here.
[A band is heard playing "O Domhnaill Abu". They come marching in.]
CULANN: Welcome, welcome, welcome before you all. Servant, drinks. Drinks for my friends.
[The servant begins handing out drinks.]
CONCHÚR: Wonderful is the feast that is before us, Culann.
CULANN: I am the one who is delighted tonight. You know, Conchur, that there is always welcome before you here and before your people as well.
CONCHÚR: Thank you. Cheers. [Raising his glass] To Culann!
EVERYBODY: To Culann! [The guests continue with their merriment.]
CULANN: Tell me Conchur, do you go hunting these days?
CONCHÚR: Oh, I tend to be on the mountain every day now since the weather is good. I was hunting yesterday.
CULANN: Well! How did you get on?
CONCHÚR: At first I was unlucky. I didn't get anything. But at the end of the day I killed two red deer and a fox.
CULANN: A fox!
CONCHÚR: Yes. A little red dog.
MAN 1: A little red dog! Ha ha ha! [he begins to
sing:]
The little dog red, red, red, red, red,
EVERYBODY: The little red dog that is ugly
The little
red dog lying in the rushes
And the top of his two ears pointing on
high.
Tally-ho with the feet, tally-ho with the --
[The song stops suddenly. The terrifying noise of the dog is heard.]
MAN 2: What's that?
CULANN: That's my dog. Perhaps there are enemies outside. Get ready!
[They draw their swords.]
CULANN: What's wrong with you, Conchur? You are as white as snow.
CONCHÚR: Setanta.
CULANN: What about Setanta?
CONCHÚR: He said he would come after the match.
CULANN: You didn't tell me he was coming.
[letting out a sigh]
And I put the dog out.
CONCHÚR: I forgot. Poor Setanta is dead. He is dead.
CULANN: I'm sorry, Conchur. I'm sorry, surely.
[Setanta runs inside, bleeding.]
CONCHÚR: Setanta! O my heart, you are alive!
CULANN: I don't understand this at all. How did you manage to come so far as the door and my fine strong dog keeping watch on the castle?
SETANTA: When I came down the path I saw the dog making for me and every howl out of him. My heart was in my mouth as he was as ferocious as a lion and his great big mouth open.
CULANN: And what did you do?
SETANTA: He leaped on me but I succeeded in escaping from him. Then I reached on my hurling stick and struck the ball back into his throat. He fell in a heap on the ground.
CULANN: And you killed him.
SETANTA: Yes. I'm sorry, Culann.
CULANN: There wasn't another dog in Ireland as good as him.
SETANTA: I know, Culann. But I had to defend myself.
CULANN: What will I do now?
CONCHÚR: I will get you another pup.
CULANN: What good is that? It'll take a very long while to train a young dog and what about the enemies?
SETANTA: I will make an agreement with you.
CULANN: What agreement?
SETANTA: I myself will give watch to the castle until you (will) have another trained dog. What do you think?
CULANN: You'll defend my castle?
SETANTA: On my word, I am in earnest.
CONCHÚR: Good for you, Setanta. It's you that has courage and you're a wonderful young man. I'm very proud of you.
CULANN: I praise you. Without doubt you are brave.
CONCHÚR: Yes, Culann, and we must give another name (to) him.
SETANTA: What name is that?
CONCHÚR: Cu Chulainn -- the Hound of Culann.
CULANN: That's it exactly. Cu Chulainn!
EVERYBODY: Cu Chulainn! (cheering)
